No conviction for cannabis champion
Nelson medicinal cannabis campaigner Rose Renton has been discharged without conviction on a charge of cultivating cannabis.
Last November, Renton was discharged without conviction on three charges of possession, processing and supplying cannabis.
That decision was suppressed until yesterday when Renton appeared in Nelson District Court for the cultivation case. She had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges.
Judge David Ruth said that Renton’s offending was ‘‘altruistic’’ and motivated by wanting to help others which brought her into conflict with the Misuse of Drugs Act. The charge related to 58 cannabis plants found in Renton’s Nelson home in various stages of growth.
Judge Ruth said he accepted that the vast proportion of the plants cultivated were very low in the active ingredient THC.
Lawyer Sue Grey said a drug conviction would prevent Renton from getting a licence to cultivate or process hemp products, from which medicinal cannabis is manufactured. It would also inhibit her ability to travel overseas. Judge Ruth said the court had no political motive and the discharge was not an endorsement of anyone breaking the law.
He said that charges for cannabis cultivation had historically been subject to serious sentences but Renton’s offending was at the bottom end of the scale.
‘‘This was effectively an altruistic endeavour on your behalf to help those for whom that help wasn’t otherwise possible.’’
Outside court, Renton was enveloped in hugs and congratulations. It felt quite emotional.
She felt like she gained a new community with the loss of son Alex in January 2015 – three months after he began experiencing mysterious seizures.